Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
over 1 year ago: TUSCALOOSA AL - OCTOBER 02: Dre Kirkpatrick #21 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass intended for Trey Burton #8 of the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2 2010 in Tuscaloosa Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Last month when Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the NFL draft season, he projected Cincinnati selecting Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and University of Miami running back Lamar Miller. Makes sense. Cedric Benson is leaving (for the love of God), so the team needs a running back -- despite my complete objection of using a first round selection for a running back. Yet the true caveat is that a running back is only as good as his offensive line and if they're not very good, then it won't matter who the team selects. That running back simply won't be effective.
Cornerback is an absolute given. Not only is there a chance that Leon Hall's rehabilitation could lead into the regular season after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, there's absolutely no depth on this roster. And even if the Bengals successfully convinced cornerback Stanford Routt to bring his slight-above-average talents (though valuable due to the lack of overall demand) to Cincinnati, the Bengals are hardly finished rebuilding their secondary. In today's NFL you need three good cornerbacks to counter the multiple wide receiver formations.
All that being said if Mel Kiper Jr.'s February Mock Draft were any indication of what the team may do in late April, those needs will be addressed. With the 17th selection, Kiper has the Bengals selecting Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. He writes:
The Bengals held up pretty well against the pass last year, but should look for the heir to Johnathan Joseph, whom they lost to Houston before the 2011 season. Kirkpatrick fits the bill as a big, physical corner who doesn't give up much in coverage given his size (nearly 6-foot-3), which makes him particularly good inside the red zone. He's also not one to shy away from run support. The Bengals need a running back, too, but they can find value at that position much later. Glenn is also an option if the Jets don't make that pick.
And with the 21st selection, Kiper has Cincinnati selecting Stanford guard David DeCastro.
I have guard as one of the top needs for the Bengals, and they won't do any better than DeCastro at this spot. A player who plays with exceptional awareness, DeCastro is the kind of guard who helps you crack off bigger gains in the run and screen game because he gets a great initial punch, but will also get to the second level and throw great blocks out in space. Again, I don't think Cincy gets enough value here at running back, but DeCastro helps the run game, too.
I think we can accept those.
0 recs | 63 comments
Hell yes we can accept those.
That’s quite a haul.
RHSNEYES - February 15, 2012
now im excited
Bengalsfan024 - February 15, 2012
Best draft yet.
Cincinnati222 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
I would agree
We’d be really lucky if we land those two players. I would love Doug Martin in the 2nd.
sgiridharan1982 - February 15, 2012
+1
that would be the best draft we could have ever!
That is my dream scenario, though I predict that it goes Decastro and the Kirkpatrick!
with Doug Martin in the second round (who have been compared to Ray Rice) the Bengals would have an offense that could be explosive in the passing game to go with an effective running game!
“Play-Action from Dalton, bootlegs to the right and throws it deep to AJ Green for the TD”
Christian Gaarde Nielsen - February 15, 2012
+1
biggie22 - February 15, 2012
＋100 That's what I've been saying for weeks.
mightwhales - February 15, 2012
+1
biggie22 - February 15, 2012
Yes please!
I couldn’t be more excited than if the draft fell this way
The Dealio - February 15, 2012
Perfect mock
However, I highly doubt are both there at pick 17.
Mexal - February 15, 2012
Holy crap
Yeah, can’t ask for any better than this
steve henderson - February 15, 2012 via mobile
who was drafted before them?
How can both these players be there?
JCompton41 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Full 1st round
here
Oregonbengalsfan - February 15, 2012
WOW Speechless!!
All I Gotta Say This WOuld MAKE THE BENGALS TEAM VERY HAPPY
Just finish it like this then i would be happy!!
2nd Round Brandon Thompson DT
3rd Isaiah Pead RB
4th Marvin Jones WR
5th Janzen Jackson FS
5th Keenan Robinson OLB
6th Asa “Ace” Jackson DB
7th Landon Walker OT
Touhue Cha - February 15, 2012
Love it Touhue Cha
messjunk - February 15, 2012
thanks bro
imma gonna make a more in-depth post later on tonight when im done with school,hopefully you and everyone else can join the conversation and the topic im going to talk about later on tonight
Touhue Cha - February 15, 2012
As much as I hate Mel Kiper... I will sing his praises if the draft goes this way
ItsAlwaysSunnyInDayton - February 15, 2012
Dennard is a senior right? Played in the Senior Bowl?
All I saw in that game was wide open receivers who couldn’t catch the ball.
Dennard is exactly the type of reach we don’t need in the first round.
DeCastro is good value at our draft spot.
BENGALS69 - February 15, 2012
It's ok, he got it right this time
ItsAlwaysSunnyInDayton - February 15, 2012
I don't think Dennard will be drafted in the first round.
Second round all the way. If Mel Kiper says its so, you know its not.
BENGALS69 - February 15, 2012
he didnt give us dennard this time
That was his first mock
JCompton41 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Thanks, back to remedial reading for me.
BENGALS69 - February 15, 2012
He has us taking Kirkpatrick, not Dennard.... :)
pemci - February 15, 2012
Finished remedial reading
Ok Kirkpatrick and DeCastro, great draft if it happened.
BENGALS69 - February 15, 2012
True... :)
pemci - February 15, 2012
No complaints here........
man, what a first round!
The Van Buren Boys - February 15, 2012
I agree, love this mock....
Please make it happen,
Please make it happen,
Please make it happen.
pemci - February 15, 2012
wow
that would be…
wow
indesignkat - February 15, 2012
When I first starting doing research ont he draft
I wanted Dre and Glenn.
After further research I found out Dre might not be there and Glenn might be a reach with the amount of good OG’s in the draft this year.
I would love this first round. Would be awesome!
TCfromDubVee - February 15, 2012
Take Konz before Glenn
sofakingood - February 15, 2012
Believe it or not, Kiper has Glenn going at #16 to the Jets
DeCastro at #21 to us and Konz at #29 to the Ravens (which I’ve heard the Ravens were really interested in Konz)
Oregonbengalsfan - February 15, 2012
we can only hope our draft turns out this well
palewook - February 15, 2012
Listen guys & maybe girlz
we should consider D. Posey from Ohio State. Maybe 4th or 5th round. He had a monster year as a junior but f—cked up as a senior. If he would have played full season last year he could have easily been in the 1st round. He’s big, fast and has good hands. Anyone else in on this idea?
sofakingood - February 15, 2012
i still like Ryan Broyles
he’s fast and only slides to the 3rd/4th because of his injury. would have been a 1st/2nd rounder otherwise.
palewook - February 15, 2012
posey in the 5th would be a steal
beerhouse11 - February 15, 2012
weird that he had Glenn drafted 5 spots before DeCastro
not that I’m complaining…
Brennen Warner - February 15, 2012
Well technically, Glenn is a left tackle who can play guard...
DTFCPDX - February 15, 2012
true
but DeCastro is a much better player. falling to 21 will not happen
Brennen Warner - February 15, 2012
ahem..
he’s a guard.
A guard hasn’t gone higher than 15 in the last decade. Only twice has one gone before 17. DeCastro is a very good prospect, but he doesn’t have the hype Pouncey did.
indesignkat - February 15, 2012
Exactly why that mock probably had Glenn before DeCastro
Glenn is a tackle who can play guard, DeCastro is a good right guard but we don’t know if he could also back up at left guard or the tackles.
DTFCPDX - February 15, 2012
Of course, assuming NFL people think like this, it gives us a good chance DeCastro will fall to us :)
DTFCPDX - February 15, 2012
Daltons Thought.
I am throwing off my back foot. Where is my front foot? Lost in the sand? I want to dance my feet! I have two feet. I want to use both. Help? Even Brady and Brees cant throw off the back leg. Im no different., I want Protection.
Kiper got it right! Andy needs room. QB Starts with free feet.
Chili Dog - February 15, 2012
my head would blow up if we got Nicks or Grubs in FA and drafted Decastro
AMAS85 - February 15, 2012
Ideal first round
Anthony Cosenza - February 15, 2012
i'll take it
For me it’s a toss up with Kirkpatrick or Jenkins, overall i think Jenkins is the second best corner in the draft period, but Kirkpatrick is right there with him and is also 6 foot 3. And i even think that you take DeCastro with the 17th pick then draft a corner with the 21st i think DeCastro is going to be that good. And could you imagine if they sign Carl Nicks to a big deal in free agency, our o-line is instantly top 10 in the nfl easy.
thegrassisGREENer18 - February 15, 2012
Loving the Kirkpatrick pick...
since if it comes down to choosing between Jenkins and Kirkpatrick with the 21st I would choose Kirkpatrick in a heartbeat. DeCastro does represent a need as he is a guard and I most certainly would hope he could come in and force Livings out right away. I’m not in love with that pick because it’s not Trent Richardson but a good O-line is the basis for a good offense and the most important thing we need right now is to keep Dalton healthy and on his feet and guard is about the only hole we have left to fill on our O-line. So I can live with the DeCastro pick, especially if we go out and get a solid starting RB like Michael Bush in free agency. I’m still a little iffy about any of the other backs coming out being solid starters in the NFL. Pead is an intriguing option but I feel like the fact that he played in the Big East in college helped out quite a bit and that he simply wouldn’t survive in the AFC North against ferocious defenses like Baltimore and Pittsburgh whereas Richardson has all the intangibles you look for in a back and got a lot of his yardage against some of the best college defenses in the nation.
dstacify - February 15, 2012
when was the last time you heard the phrase pulling guard in regards to the Bengals?
We need some athleticism in the middle.
keithster - February 15, 2012
Last time we heard pulling guard was Steinbach i think.
DTFCPDX - February 15, 2012
Well I've HEARD that Livings has done well as a pulling guard
Oregonbengalsfan - February 15, 2012
No, he's a falling on his ass guard.
DTFCPDX - February 15, 2012
Awesome!
If this happened, I would cry tears of joy. But how the heck is Cordy Glenn going before DeCastro..and to be honest I would be upset if they took Kirkpatrick over Decastro..but alls well that ends well
Nick_Crago - February 15, 2012
I guess I'll take it....
lol
Boomer Lion - February 15, 2012
Good draft
DeCastro would get us much needed help to finally run the ball !! Love Richardson too ,but without a great line he would be just average.Now if Richardson is still there at 17 then I take him,but only if one or two of these guy’s are still on the board.(DeCastro ,Glenn or konz )This way I’m sure to get a great linemen. GO BENGALS !!
BengalDude - February 15, 2012
Great draft
All the Bengals would have to do is get into the mid 2nd and grab Martin or possibly Miller if he is still there. If not Polk could be at the bottom of the 2nd and ready to suit up for us. Man this is going to be an awesome draft and don’t be surprised if Glenn goes before DeCastro because he can play T and G and some teams will want that more than just a G.
Bigcatdaddy - February 15, 2012 via Android app
Yes please!!!
DonMegga - February 15, 2012
Mel quit playing with us!!!
Almost had a heart attack off excitement… Gives us Barring and Pead in 2/3 and I’m buying season tickets…
pray4gm11 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
+1
Touhue Cha - February 15, 2012
I know the combines have not even started
And it’s way early BUT I WOULD LOVE THIS SCENEREO – Doug Martin in the 2nd and we are set
biggie22 - February 15, 2012
Won't happen.
But it would be great if it did.
dqniel - February 16, 2012
Well I just went from six to midnight
While this is unlikely that both players are there at 17, let alone having the other available at 21, I could see one or the other falling to 17. Not sure about the Cordy Glen over Decastro, but if teams are looking at Glen as a tackle with versatility to play guard, then maybe. If both Decastro and Kirkpatrick were available at 17, that would be a wonderful problem to have. The real question would be who would you take first?
BengalCards - February 16, 2012
The real question would be who would you take first?
You’d have to take Decastro 1st.
Cause the depth at CB is deeper than at Guard (especially a Guard of Decastro’s quality).
gratefulmax - February 16, 2012
CB position might have more depth
But a skill position like CB will have higher value to teams and will get picked over earlier. If they’re both there at 17, you would drafting the #1 OG or the #2 CB. Since the #2 CB will be perceived to have more value and will likely be drafted by another team before the pick at 21, I would probably pick Kirkpatrick. There will be quality, day one starting guards available in the second round.
Like I said, this scenario is a good problem to have if you are the Bengals.
BengalCards - February 16, 2012
+1
Definitely Kirkpatrick
Bigcatdaddy - February 16, 2012 via Android app
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